Method and machine for use in preparing soles for cement attachment to shoe bottoms



June 22, 1948. H. c. PAULSEN 9 39 METHOD AND MACHINE FOR USE INPREPARING SOLES FOR CEMENT ATTACHMENT TO SHOE BOTI'OMS Filed June 25,1945 5 Sheets-Sheet l fizz/enrol" Hans GPau/sen I H. c. PAULSEN 43,693METHOD AND MACHINE FOR USE IN PREPARING SOLES FOR CEMENT ATTACHMENT TOSHOE BOTTOMS Filed June 23, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 jams 22, E948.

June 22, 1948. c PAULSEN 2,443,693

METHOD AND MACHINE FOR USE IN PREPARING SOLES FOR CEMENT ATTACHMENT TOSHOE BOTTOMS Filed June 23, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 June 22 1948. PAULSENI I 2,443,693

METHOD AND MACHIN OR USE'IN PREPA G SOLES FOR CEMENT ATTACHMENT TO SHOEB Y OMS I Filed June 25, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Inventor Hans CPauZs-enJune 22, 1948. H. c. PAULS'EN 2,443,693

METHOD AND MACHINE FOR USE IN PREPARING SOLES FOR CEMENT ATTACHMENT TOSHOE BOTTOMS Filed June 25, 1945 I 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 fizz/672101 HansC.Paulsen Patented June 22, 1948 METHOD AND MACHINE FOR USE IN PRE-PARING SOLES EOE CEMENT ATTACH- MENT TO SHOE BOTTOMS Hans C. Paulsen,Mdford, Mass., assignor to United Shoe Machinery Corporation,Flemington, N. J a corporation of New Jersey Application June 23, 1945,Serial No. 601,186

23 Claims.

This invention relates to methods and machines for use in preparingsoles for attachment to shoe bottoms and is illustrated herein withparticular reference to the attachment of outsoles to shoe bottoms bycement.

In cement attaching soles to shoe bottoms, the

outsoles or other sole members in the better grades of shoes are usuallypremolded or conformed to approximately the shape desired in thefinished shoes or, in some instances, beyond that shape so that thesoles will fit readily intosubstantial conformity to the shoe bottomswhen the sole-attaching pressure is applied. In order to mold orover-mold a sole member of leather or similar material to the extentindicated, it is desirable to. put the sole into acondition sumcientlypliable to stand bending due to the solemolding pressure withoutcracking under the strain, particularly at the outer, grain ortreadsurface of the outsole adjacent to the break or ball line. Anoutsole may be so conditioned by subjecting it to water or moisture fora predetermined length of time, or by subjecting it to steam or hotwater vapor for a considerably'shorter time.

, Thermoplastic or heat-activatable cements are coming into use more andmore for cementattaching soles to shoe bottoms and many of these cementsare best activated by heat applied directly to the surfaces to which thecement has been applied. Some cements used today aretruly thermoplasticin character such as cements containing vinyl resins as a base. Othercements, based on neoprene (chloroprene) Perbunan (Hycar) or otherrubber-like synthetic materials, are. activatable by heat but are notthermoplastic in the sense in which that term is usually used.Accordingly, the term heat-activatable is used herein as applicable. toany cements which, when heated in a dry or nontacky condition, areactivatcd to such an extent that the cemented surfaces will unite underpressure to form a strong, permanent bond.

Thermoplastic or heat-activatable cements are usually applied to theattaching surface of a flat, unmolded sole member and allowed to drybefore the sole is put into a condition for molding. After the sole hasbeen molded into theshape desired, it is still necessary to activate thecement thereon before sole-attaching pressure is applied to the sole andshoe. Since thermoplastic or heat-activatable cements are relativelyquick setting, the activation of such a cement by heat should preferablybe done just before the soleattaching pressure is applied in order toobtain the bestresults. This procedure often involves difficulties notonly in applying heat to all portions of the cemented surface of thepremolded sole, but also because the application of sufficient heattoactivate the cement directly to such surface may have a. tendency toalter the shape into which the sole was originally molded. I

Objects of the present invention are to overcome the difficultiesreferred to in preparing soles for attachment to shoe bottoms, and toprovide better and quicker methods and machines for accomplishing suchresults.

To these ends, the invention provides, in accordance with one of itsaspects, an improved method of preparing sole members for attachment toshoe bottoms which comprises simultaneously applying heat andsole-molding pressure to a flatumnolded sole having a heat-activatablecement thereon, thereby molding the sole into a predetermined shapewhile simultaneously activating the cement thereon. As herein.illustrated, the sole-molding pressure is applied with the aid of ayielding flexible pad and a form cooperating with the pad. The padv ispreferably overmolded to a shape beyond that desired on the sole in thefinished shoe. The form is likewise overmolded so that its sole-engagingsurface is complemental in shape to the overmolded surface of the pad.

In'order to'apply heat directly to the attach-' ing surface of thesolesimultaneously with the sole-molding pressure, the invention furtherprovides, in accordance with the method herein illustrated, a formcomposed of heat conducting material so that it can be readily heated toa predetermined temperature suflicient to activate the 'heat actiVatabIecement on the sole during the overmolding operation. In the presentmethod, therefore the sole is overmolded to a predetermined shape andthe cement on its attaching surface is simultaneously activated, theseoperations being accomplished in a manner which ensures that all thecement on the attaching sursteaming the leather sole to put it into aproper,

pinned to. their central portions forwardly ex tending arms 36 and 38provided with upstanding ears between which the forward ends of thelevers 28, 36 are embraced, these forward ends being convex in shape tobear'u'pon flat surfaces formed on the arms. Compression springs 40,. 42 surrounding the rods 32, 34, hold the arms 36, 38 upwardly. againstthe levers 28, 36, as shown in Figs. 3 and 6, and upward movement of thelevers is limited by adjustable stop screws 44, 46, threaded into lugson the swinging frame 24. The forward and rearward movement of eachswinging frame is limited by a pair of rods 48 (Fig. 3) pivoted to theswinging frame by pins 58 and extending rearwardly through projections52 formed on the opposite sides of a fixed cylinder 54 fastened to theframe l4, the rods 48 being provided with leather washers andv nuts forlimiting the forward and rearward swinging movements of the swingingframe 24, as shown in thepatent referred to.

As described in the Ballard et al. patent, the cylinder 54 (Fig. 3) ofeach station is provided with a piston 56 arranged to move upwardly toengage the inner ends of the levers 28, and to force their forward endsdownwardly toward the pad 20. The mechanism for applying pressure to asole 0n the pad 20, including the cylinder 54 and piston 56, is operatedhydraulically by oil, as is disclosed in the Ballard patent, thismechanism being modified for use in a two-station machine as disclosedin United States Letters Patent No. 2,231,963, granted February 18, 1941on an application filed in the name of Frank E. Stratton and to whichreference may be had for a more complete description of this mechanism.The sole-molding pressure is applied to the sole on the pad in eachstation through the elevation of the piston 56 in the cylinder 54, bydepression of a treadle 58 (Figs. 1 and 2), as will later be explained.

The forward ends of the arms 36, 38 are provided with transverse T-slots62 (Fig, 3) which receive T-shaped projections formed on the upper sideof a pressure-applying mold or form 64 which is arranged to cooperatewith the yielding pad 26 in applying sole-molding pressure to a sole onthe pad. It will be seen from the foregoing that the form 64 is movableforwardly and rearwardly into and out of operative position over the padby the swinging frame 24 which, in Fig. 3, is shown in its forward orpressure-applying position.

The form 64 is composed of metal, such as iron or steel, and it ispreferably chromium plated onits lower side to give it a smoothlypolished corrosion free sole-engaging surface 66. The

top side of the form, as shown in Figs. 3 and 6,

is substantially flat while its sole-engaging surface 66 issubstantially complemental in shape gt), the overmolded upper surface 22of the pad The form 64 is provided with means for heating itssole-engaging surface 66 to a predetermined temperature so that the formwill apply heat directly to the cemented face of the outsole beingoperated upon during the sole-molding operation. The means for heatingthe metal form comprises a heating unit 68, located in'a horizontalopening formed in the rear or heel portion of the form, and a pair ofheating units 12, 14 mounted in openings in the forepart of the form inthe vicinity of the break or ball line portion of an outsole to beoperated upon by the form. The heating unitsare connected by wires 6 'l6through a ,distributingbox 18 to an electric switch (not shown) by wires86 and a thermostat 13 (Fig. 3) is provided in the form for controllingthe degree of heat. The form 64, therefore, is arranged to cooperatewith the yielding pad 28 in applying sole-molding pressure to a solemember on the pad, for example, the outsole A shown in Fig. 9, and theform is also adapted to apply heat directly to the upper or attachingsurface of the outsole to which a heat-activatable cement has beenapplied and allowed to dry beforethe outsole was placed on the pad.

The right outsole A, which is to be prepared for immediate attachment toa shoe bottom, is preferably a leather outsole of usual shape andthickness and it is in a substantially flat or unmolded condition whenpresented to the machine, as shown in Figs. 6 and 9. The inner orattaching surface of the sole, that is, the flesh side indicated by theletter S in Fig. 9, will have a coating of thermoplastic orheatactivatable cement C applied to its marginal portion, the cementextending rearwardly substantially to the heel'seat portion of the soleand inwardly from its edge face a distance approximately equal tothe'normal lasting margin or allowance of an upper. The heat-activatablecement may be any of'the well-known types of synthetic rubber cements inuse today for cement-attaching soles to shoe bottoms, an example of suchcement being disclosed in LettersPatent of the United States No.2,061,296, granted November 17, 1936, on an application filed in thename of W. H. Wedger.

When a chloroprene cement is used for attaching a sole to a shoe bottom,the forms 64 should be'heated to a temperature that will thoroughlyactivate the cement which, at the time the sole is operated upon, is ina dry nontacky condition. The degree 'of' heat necessary in the formwill vary, of course, with the type of heat-ac'tivatable cementbeingusedbut in the case of chloroprene, for example, the form should be heatedto a temperature of about 174 Fahrenheit in order to activate the cementand render it sufliciently tacky to permit the outsole to be placedimmediately in juxtaposition to a shoe bottom and cement-attachedthereto. With othertypes of synthetic rubber'cements, the temperature ofthe form will vary according to the cement being used and thesetemperatures may be regulated and maintained by the thermostats 19 whichcontrol the heat of the forms at both stations of the machine, Since theheat of the form is applied directly to the heat-activatable cement onthe attaching surface of the sole for a period ofonly a few seconds,the'cement is activated almost im-- mediately without the heat of theform passing through or penetrating to any appreciable extent thematerial of the sole, thereby eliminating danger of scorching or burningthe outsole or drying out the material thereof to render it too stiff orhard. I

Each of the solid metal forms 64 is provided with means for preventingthe sole from adhering to the sole-engaging surface of the form after.the sole-molding operation has been completed. This means is bestillustrated in Figs. 6, 7 and 8 and comprises a spring-pressed plunger82 located at the forward portion of the form adjacent to the ball lineof a sole on the pad, the plunger being slida bly mounted in a Verticalopening in the form and being pressed downwardly against a shoulder inthe opening by a compressionspring 84 retained in the opening by a screw86.- The teases heel "portion of the -outsole-* will he urged :awayfromthe surface of the form by means-of arlea-f spring -83 (Figs; 1=an:d'*6) "secured to the cente'r ofthe-rearportion oftheform by-screws-90:

{The outsole-mustbe properly positioned length"- wise =of the pad andfo-r'm "so that "it vifil'l be overmolded in a manner'to causeit to-fitaccurately against the bottom of the-shoe to whichit istobe-attachedexcept for the ov-ermol'ded" condition whichwill'be-eliminatedinthe sole-attaching 3 operation. Tothis end the' pad*boibes l*8'-are provided with-"sole positioning inreans, indicatedgenerally in Figs. 1'-and"6 bythenumeral 92; As shown in Figno, theposi-t'i'oningmeans flcomprisesa'bracket or arm!!! s'ecureTd by screwsto the left-hand end 'of the' pad box W8} the upper portion 'oi t'hebracket being bent-outwardly at substantially the same angle "as 'thein'clination of the" forwardportion of'the overmoldedtsurface 22 of ethe pad "20. "Theincline'd portion ofthe bracket-9 3" has ablock'flfi'securedito its upperjend by screws 98 "and an adjustable-screw-l'00" is threaded through "a "hole in-the block and ls'rotatablysecured 'hy meansor a sldt-rand screw connectionto a sliding blockl0'2,":the*block being slotted at its lower end" to "receive"-atsolei;aee i M which is-faste'ned in'tl'ie 's'lidin'g block by a clampingscrew-l06.' The adjusting;s'crew m is'provided-with a knurledheadl-UBWherhy it"rn'ay be rotated to move'theigage' I M forwardly orrearwardly of the pad; The lower 'endto'i the gage IE4 is provided 'witha Vshaped notch" in which the toe end "of the outsole "A ma be placed "tolocate the sole lengthwise and laterally pf1the pad.

In addition to performing 'airovermolding operation on the sole andsimultaneously activating" th'e-heat=activatable cement on" itsattaching surface S; the present machine," as herein illustrated; isadapted to put the'so'le "intoatsufficiently' pliable or mold'able"condition prion to'mol'ding to'perm'it: distortion" of the soleWil'ihOlItCIflCklllg under' the pressure; the softeningpperationpreferably being' discontinuedfluring the overmol'dingand'cementactivating operations. I'Ihe' means for" renderingthesole'moldable, as herein -illustrated; comprises: mechanismfbrintroducing steam ori'hob water vaporaround the substantially flatsol'e'as it restson the-pad; "as= illustratedffor"example, in "Fig"; 6.. Thismechanism consists era pair-of :substanti-a1I-- ly rectangular steamchambers; or "boxes I HI, I 1'2 associated"with each oft-the pad boxes'18, the steam HQ' "being "secured to the forward sideof the pad boX byagpair off'L-shapedbracket's HE held by screws I I6, and'theboXllZ beingsecured to"the rearwand side of the" pad boxlbl" a similarpairofjbracketsll'l. (Fig.8). The steam. boxes 'I Hi, l' l 2 are composedof'thin "sheet" nrat'e rial, preferably metal, and are provided.respectively their inner or adjacent side walls,fithatis,"thewallsifacingth'e 'pad',"with a series'of circular' openings "I I8, [2'9which, as illustrated in. Fig. 6, are arranged in adownwardlycurvingearcconforming generally to'the contourof*the"mar--ginal'portionsof theovermolded-surfaceiz of the pacific. Each steam boxhas another "opening lZ-Z (FignB) at itsrearWaTd-end which isc'o'n-;necte'd by a pipe- I24 to any suitable source of supply such, forexample; as a -steam"boiler .or'

other' convenient means for" -providing steam or 8 pad to-put itintoaproper condition for molding eitherin jets or streams undersuiiicient pressure t'o' cause the steam to 'flow rea'dily'through theopeningsimthesteam-boXes or, if desired, it' may be introduced moreslowly around the sole in-the form' of hot water vapor under-'considerably less pressure. Since the rows ofoppositelydis'posedopenings H8, lZO in 'the steamhoxesare'located below'the'soleorsubstantially opposite the=-open space between the -over-molded surf-ace(if-the pad and the lower surface of the flat outsole, it-will 'be-seenthat the steam or water vapor will-he first introducedinto this space=and Wi ll then flow upwardly against the-grain or lower surface "of the"sole and surround the forepart thereof from about the tiplineto'a pointrearwardly of its breakor ball line. 'Sincethe steam isint-roduced fromboth sides of-the pad simultaneouslythrough the plurality of openings"which extend in a curve from the toe portion rearwardly to beyond theball line of the -sole,the-forepart of the solewill receive afairl-y'thcrough' treatment "irom'the-steamor hot-water-vapor ecn-though the-periodduringwhich it is subjected "to'the steam mayberelatively short. Accordingly,='the forepart of the outsole A will beput into .a sufii-ciently soft or'moldable condition'to render'itflexible enoughto be overmolded to aconsiderable cleg rec withoutcracking the grain'ortread surface'of the sole atthebreak orballiinepor- 't'ion'where the greatest strains takeplace.

'Ih'e introductionof steam or hot water'vapor may be controlled manuallyby the'operator or, if desired, it "could be "turned on manually andleft 'on continuously-during the overmoldingand activating operations atboth stations of themachine. However, it has been found'preferable'inpractice to introduce the steam'tgth'e' sole for a relativelyshortiperio'd of time'before'the overmolding takes place because, asstated above, this proceduretrenders the sole sufficientlypliable tostand the 'overrnolding pressure without cracking, an'dyetthe steam isnot applied long enough'to stain or spot the 'grain'surface oftheoutsole or to. moisten the sole sufficiently to interfere with the drycement onlits attaching'surf-ace. Moreoverysin'ce the steam is applied'a-gainst'the lower cor' grain surfacero'f the solefor only a shortperiod ofltime, it does not have time to penetrateithrough the ,solet'o'its upper or attaching surfaceto heat saidsurface suiiiciently toactivate the cement thereon. The amount of steam or' hot water vaporwhich flows around the sole is not sufiicient to ;a'ctivate"the cementon said .attaching.surface.

.Accordingly, as herein disclosed, the application oflstea-m'or hotwater vapor to .theoutsoleisIfor only. a relatively short perio'doftime. before-molding pressure is applied and the steam is vthen shutoff,this being accomplished in each station of the machine by movement vofthe swinging "frames 24 from their rearwardly inclined positions intotheir substantially vertical positions shown in 'Fig. 3,.in which theformsfi i are located in operative relation tolthe pads 20.

Ifhe means for controlling the introduction of steam to the soles isbest illustrate'd'in Figs.i3 :and l, and 'comprise'sa rotary valve"IZEVmounted "in a'casingil28v secured by screws I3llttothe'frame .14;the'pip'es 124 from theoppositesteam .b'oxes H9, H Zibe'ingc'onriectcdto an upper port [32in :the valve casing by an inlet pipelzl'. andatlower port I36 in the valve casing being. connected byajpipe'IL38Lt0'the source ,ofsupply. A vpassage MD in the rotary valveI26 is zsoarrangedflthat 'whenthe swinging frame "24 is located in itsrearwardly inclined position, the valve'is open andsteam can flowthrough to the'pad. -Movement of the swinging frame forwardl into itsvertical or operative position, shown in Fig. 3, rotates the valve I2690 in a clockwise direction and closes the valve, as shown in Fig. 4.Rotation of the valve 90 in a reverse or counterclockwise direction byreturn movement of the swinging frame will connect the inlet port I32with the supply port I36 and permit steam to pass into thesteam .boxes,thereby introducing steam to the pad and sole when the swinging frame islocated in its rearwardly inclined or inoperative position. As disclosedin the Ballard patent, the swinging frames 24 are arranged to be movedfromtheir rearwardly inclined positions into-their forward positions bythe operator by means of handles I42 :formed on the upper portions ofthe swinging frames in position to be grasped by theoperator.

The rotary valve I26 carries a'stud I44 (Fig. 3) which extends outwardlythrough the casing I28 and has a pinion I45 secured thereto which mesheswith a gear segment I48 pivoted on a shaft I52 mounted in the frame I4,an upwardly extending arm I50 of the segment I48 being pivotallyconnected by a link I54 to the swinging frame 24. As stated, thearrangement is'such that movement of the swinging frame from itsrearwardly inclined to its forward position will rotate the valve I26approximately 90 in a clockwise direction to close the valve, as shownin Fig. 4, before any sole molding pressure is applied to the sole onthe pad. Any condensation of the steam or water vapor inthe steam boxesH0, H2 is carried back to the source of supply by a pipe I56 located atthe bottom of each box (Figs; 1 and 6) V I The mechanism for applyingthe sole-molding pressure to the sole fluid pressure operated and issimilar to the pressure applying mechanism of the machine disclosed inthe Ballard et a]. patent. modified substantially as disclosed in theStratton Patent No.'2,231,963 above referred to. The pressure applyingmechanism at each station of the machine is'set into operation bydepression of the treadle 58 at that station. Each treadle 58 isconnected by a rod I58 (Fig. 1) to a yoked lever I50 pivoted on a fixedshaft I62 extending transversely of the frame I4, another arm I64 of theyoked lever being pivotally con- Y moves the valve controlling lever I68of that stanected by a link I66 to an arm I68 secured to a shaft I10.The shaft I extends inwardly into a tank n reservoir I69 containing afluid pressure medium, such as oil, and the shaft has a ro-' tary valvemember I65 (Fig.5). secured to its in-' ner end the valve member beingrotatably mounted ina valve casing I61 secured in the fluid tank orreservoir. The fluid or oil is drawn upwardly from the reservoir I69through a pipe I1! by means of aconstantly operating oil pump I13 drivenby a shaft I and connected by a pipe line I11 to a crosspipe I19 locatedrear wardly of the rotary valves I61 and theopposite ends of whichextend upwardly and forwardly and are connectedwith inlet ports I 8|.(Fig, 5) located at the top of each valve I61. Rearwardly of each valvethe cross pipe I19 carries a check valve I83 of the usual balland'spring arrangement so that fluid comingv from the reservoir intoeach valve cannot return through the check valve, thereby causingthe'fluid pressure in each station: to be maintained when that stationis operating regardless of whether or not theother station is operating.The shaft I15 for operat ing'the oil pump I13 is driven-bye. motor I80 1has an outlet port I81 on its lower side and also.

an adjacent exhaust port I89, the outlet port I81 being connected by apipe I9I to the lower end of a small cylinder chamber I93 forming a partof the piston and cylinder arrangement 54, -56 referred to above. Asdisclosed in the Stratton patent, the fluid pressure medium enters thesmall chamber I93 when the rotary valve I is rotated by depression ofthe treadle 58 into a position in which the valve is open, that is, inwhich. the inlet port I8I is connected by the passage I85 to the outletport I81 and the exhaust port I89 is closed, the fluid medium thenbuilding up pressure in the small chamber I93 to raise a small pistonI95 rapidly in the-chamber and thereby lower the form 64 quickly intoengagement with the sole on the pad. When: the pressure in the-smallchamber reaches a predetermined amount, which is registered on apressure gage I90 (Fig. 1), an auxiliary or relief valve I91 (Fig. 3) isoperated to open a port in the large cylinder chamber 54 located abovethe small chamber and thereby to permit fluid under-pressure to enterthe large chamber. 54 to elevate a large piston I99 slidably mountedtherein against the pressure of a compression spring 20I, the largepiston I99 having the upper portion 56 for engaging the pressureapplying levers 28 and 30 (Fig. 3). Thelarge chamber 54 fills with oilthrough suction caused by the .vacuum'created in the chamber when thelarge piston I99 is elevated with the small piston I95, so that only avery small amount of fluid is neededin the large chamber to transmit thefull pressure of the pressure medium immediately to the large piston I99and, through it, to the form 64. As stated above, this fluid pressureapplying mechanism, including the double piston arrangement and theauxiliary valve connecting the large and small chambers, is fullydisclosed in the Stratton patent to which reference may be had for amore complete description thereof, the pistons in the Stratton patent,however, being in a reverse position and. moving downwardly instead ofup-- wardly.

Depression of either treadle '58, therefore,

tion in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1, and, through themechanism referred-to, opens the rotary valve I61 to cause fluidpressure to be built up in the small cylinder chamber I93 andsubsequently in the large chamber 54. When fluid pressure is applied tothe large chamber, the pistonis elevated to engage the pressure-applyinglevers 28, 30 and to force their forward ends downwardly to move theform 64 downwardly under substantial pressure into operative engagementwith the sole on the pad 20, thereby. applying relatively heavysole-molding pressure to'the sole. I

The treadles 58 are fulcrumed on a transverse shaft I12 mounted in therear portion of the base I2, the treadles being normally held in anele-- vated position by tension springs I14 secured at their lower endsto the treadles and at their upper ends to hooks in the shaft I62. It isdesirable to have each treadle 58 remain in depressed position withoutattention from the operator until he is ready to release it, forexample, to permit the loading and operating of one station of themachine while the other is operating. For this 1r purpose-anauxiliarylatching treadle H6 is provided at each station fulcrumed on aforward shaft ZUS'and' having a Llshaped yoked portion I 78 whichstraddl'es the treadle 58and is urged rearwardly by a spring 205'against a projection on the treadle 58. The yoke HS-snaps over the uppersurface of the lever'against a shoulder 20'? (Fig. 2) on the projectionof the treadle '58when the latter is depressed and thus latches it in a.

depressed position. Consequently, either treadle 5B willremain initsdepressed'position without gage I90;

In'v carrying out the method of the present inventiomwith the aid ofthe'machine described above; the operator selects an unmolded solemember; such asthe outsole A (Fig; 9) I which has hadia thermoplastic orheat-'activatabl'e' cement-C such, forzexample, as chloroprene; appliedtofltheamargina'l portion ofits inner or attaching face;thea'cementbeing' in' a dry or" non-adhesive condition at that time.

one-oftheiyieldable pads 20, for example, the right l-handfpad; andlocates it'b-y means of the gage=l042 The power for operating the motoriaflhaving been'turned' on, andthevelectric current for the heatingunits also being turned-on soithatxtheforms 64 are heated to therequired temperature, the operator moves the swinging frame 10f"theiright -hand station forwardly into its" verticai or operativeposition; Movement of the" swinging. frame into such position closestherotarywalve 126*, as: shown in Fig; 4,. thustpreventingrfurthersteamorhot water vapor from passing into the steam boxes I I0, H2 and underthe-sole- Ai-thesteain'; as" stated, having beensfiowingsbetween thesole andpadwhilethe swinging frame wassin its rearwardly: inclinedposition and whi'le itiwas being-moved forwardly, thereby putting thesoie particularly its outer or: grain surface, into a suflrciently:moldable condition to withstand theso'le molding operation: withoutcracking 'eventhougli the sole is to be overmoldeda substantial amount.When the swinging frame reaches its vertical position, the operatordepresses-the treaclle 58; which becomes latchedin its depressedposition:by:tlie auxiliarytreadle l 16; andztherebyopens the' rotaryvalve I61=of the right-handrstation xtocause the form '64- tobe moved:downwardly toward the pad under the pressureapplied by the large :pistonI 99:11 the" chamber 54. The: formtli imcccperation with the yieldingoverm'olded pad Z'O applies the sole-moldingpressurevtozthe solewhile-'theiheated"surface:Eli-of the forma simultaneously applies heatdirectly-tot the attaching face of the sole, therebyactivating theheat-i-activatable cement C'thereon' simultaneouslyi w-ith" theovermolding operation; In other words: the outsole 'AiiiSS first putinto a condition for? molding by/the: introductionof the: steam andthen, with'i'the aid-'of the'present appara He places the sole -P'- 0nthe overmolded surface 22 oftus, it is subjected" to :relatively heavysole-molding pressure by members shaped to overmoldthe'sole-apredetermined amount and simultaneously to activate theheat-activatable cement on its attachingface. When the moldingpressurehas been applied for a period sufficient to accomplish thedesired results, for example, a few seconds;- the-pressure-applyingmechanism is shut off by release of the trea'dle 58 and themetalform'fil:

returns to its elevated position shown in Figs. 3 and 6, leaving theovermoldedoutsole A on'the pad with the cement onits attaching surfacein a sufficiently'activatedcondition to-be placed immediately injuxtaposition to a shoe bottom and receive 'solesattaching' pressure tocement. attach the outsole'permanently to'the shoe. Fig. 10illustratesthe. outsole A after it 'has' been overmoldedas-des-cribedabove and has hadxthe heatactivatable cement'on itsattaching surface simultaneously activated, the sole having firstbeenputinto a pliable or moldable condition by steaming, as described above.

Fig. 11 shows theoutsole A in position'above the'bottom-of a shoe Bmounted on a last Lzand.

comprising'an upper 492 and an: insole |94-,1the margin of theupper-having been securedin overlastedrelation to:theinso1e,.as. shownat I96; by any suitable-means such, forexample; as-cemeiit; Theoverlasted marginal portion- I96 of'the upper has been roughened in theusual. manner and coated with cement I98 similar to that usedon thesole. The overm'olded outsole is located'at once-in juxtaposition-to theshoe bottom and put under sole-attaching pressure immediately to cementattach the outsole permanently to the shoe bottom.

The sole-attaching pressure may be convenient'ly applied'asillustrated-in Fig. 12, with the aid of a padbox ofthe type disclosed inthe Ballard et -al: patent, this pad box; indicatedbythe numeral-ZBO,being providedwith forepartsole and-shoe positioning gages 202, and heelend sole-and-shoepositioning gages 2B4 for'locatingcthesole'sandishoerelativelyto each other on the pad 206. The sole-attachingmachine of the Ballardpatent isprovided with a forepart pressureapplying abutment 208 and a rear or last-engaging abutment 22I 0' andthe sole-attachingpressure 518 applied in the -manner disclosed in:therpatentr for: a: period of" time sufiicie-nt to cause-they outsole .Ato becomepermanently attachedtto the shoe bottom; this'period, in theBallardlmachine, usually b'eing about seconds whichis approximately thetime it takes each pad box to travel'around the turret of the machine.

The sole andshoe may; if desired, be placed-:in' some iothertype of"sole-attaching machine or pressratorreceiv'e the sole-attachingpressure provided; this pressure can @be' applied immediatelyafterztlreoutsole is removed from. the machine of the" presentinvention. A convenient arrangement; for example; would be: to have atwo station machine: for cement-attaching soles toshoebottomslocatedoppositei the present machine; one stationof thesole-attaching machine beingrfor right shoesandi the other for*leftshoes, such a machine being-"disclosed in United States Letters"Patent" No 2,356,756, granted August 29, l944,='on an application filedin the nameof Sidney J. Finn. 'Bysuchan arrangement; in carrying'out'the present method the operator could place a sale in the. right-handstationof the present machine and trip that 'station'by the treadle158'5'andihezcouldfth'en place aleft sole in the left-hand-fstation and.operate that station; The

operator could then release the right-hand station and remove theprepared right sole therefrom and position it in the sole-attachingmachine'together with a shoe and place the sole and shoe undersole-attaching pressure immediately, after which he could reload theright-hand station of the present machine. By such a procedure, anopera-torwould be able to prepare soles forattachment to shoe bottomsand place them under sole-attaching pressure immediately or as fast ashe could operate so that there would be no appreciable lapse of timebetween preparing the sole and placing it with a shoe undersole-attaching' pressure. In this way there would be no opportunity forthe heat-activatable cement on the sole to become cool or lose itstackiness, and there would also be no loss of time in performing thesole-attaching operation which, with a fast-setting heat-activatablecement, could probably be accelerated considerably by a fast experiencedoperator.

Fig. 13 shows the shoe B after the outsole A has been permanentlyattached to the shoe bottom by heat-activatable cement inaccordance withthe present method. It will be noted inthis figure that the overmoldedoutsole, as illustrated in Figs. and 11, is less convex after itsattachment to the shoe bottom under the sole-attaching pressure appliedin the pad box 280. The marginal or edge portions of the sole, however,hug the upper closely around the periphery of the shoe bottom,particularly in the shank portion where the curvatures are morepronounced, so that there will be no openings or gaps between the upperand outsole after the latter has been attached to the shoe bottom. Asstated above, an outsole prepared in accordance with the present methodmay be placed immediately in juxtaposi tion to a shoe bottom and putunder sole-attaching pressure without any appreciable loss of time.There will be no danger of weaknesses developing in the cement bondbetween the sole and'the shoe bottom by this procedure, however, becausethe sole and shoe were placed under sole-attaching pressure immediatelyafter the sole was prepared, that is, while the heat-activatable cementthereon was in its most active or adhesive condition. A separatecement-activating operation after the sole leaves the present machine'isof course dispensed with and, sinceheat-activated 'ent of the UnitedStates is:

'1. That improvement in methods of preparing soles for cement attachmentto shoe bottoms which comprises providing an unmoldedoutsole having heatactivatable cement on One surface thereof, applying heat directly tosaid surface to activate said cement and render it adhesive withoutheating the rest of'the outsole to any appreciable extent, and applyingsole-molding pressure to the entire outsole simultaneously with theapplication of heat to said surface, thereby molding the outsole Whileactivating said cement.

2. That improvement in methods of preparing soles for cement attachmentto shoe bottoms which comprises providing a single-ply outsole havingheat-activatable cement on its attaching surface, and simultaneouslyapplying sole-moldingpressure to the entire ou sole and heat directly tosaid attaching surface in such a manner-that the heat does not penetratethe material of the outsole to anyappreciable degree, thereby moldingthe outsole into a predetermined shape while simultaneously activatingthe cement on said attaching surface to put the cement into an adhesivecondition without sconching the outsole.

'3. That improvement in methods of preparing solesfor attachment to shoebottoms which compnises providing an unmolded outsole of integralmaterial having heat-activatable cement on one surface thereof, applyingmolding pressure to the outsole to mold it beyond the shape desired inthe finished shoe, and applying heat directly to the cement on saidsurface without heating the material adjacent said surface to anappreciable degree to activate the cement on said surface simultaneouslywith the application of said molding pressure, thereby rendering saidheatactivatable cement adhesive while simultaneously overmoldingthe'sole.

:4. That improvementin methods of preparing outsoles for attachment toshoe bottoms which comprises providing an runmolded outsole havingheat-activatable cement on its attaching surface, applying moldingpressure to the outsole with the aid of members adapted to mold itbeyond the shape desired in the finished shoe, and simultaneouslyapplying heat directly to said attaching surface to activate said cementwithout heating the material below said surface to any appreciableextent, thereby overmolding the outsole and simultaneously activatingthe heat-activatable cement on its attaching surface without drying outthe outsole.

5. That improvement in methods of preparing soles for attachment to shoebottoms which comprises applying steam to one surface of a sole havingheat-activatable cement on its other surface for a suificient time toput the sole into a moldable condition without afliecting the cement onsaid other surface, and applying additional heat and sole-moldingpressure simultaneously to the sole, thereby activating theheat-activatable cement while molding the sole without changing itsposition to the desired shape.

6. That improvement in methods of preparing soles for attachment to shoebottoms whichcomprises providing an unmolded sole having heatactivatablecement thereon, placing the sole in a predetermined position, steamingthe sole to render it moldable without cracking, and applyingsole-molding pressure to the sole without changing its position to moldthe sole beyond the shape desired in the finished shoe. 5 '7. Thatimprovement in methods of preparing 'outsoles for attachment to shoebottoms which into the desired shape While simultaneously activating thecement on'its attaching surface.

'8. That improvement in methods of preparing outsoles for attachmenttoshoe bottoms which comprises providing an unmolded outsole havingheat-activatable cement on its attaching surface, steaming the forepa-rtof the outsole by applying steam to the tread surface thereof therebyrendering-it more readily moldable without activating the cement on saidattaching surface, apply- "in'g sole-molding pressure to the outsolewith the ammo in i a single operation, thereby activating the cement or:the sole :and molding the so1 ,m-to--a. desired shape simultaneously.

:Jifi.:"1h&t improvement inmethodsaof pneparing soles :for attachment toshoe bottoms which comm'isesqeroviriing .a leather sole -ha,vin;g dryheatectivatable cement on its attaching smtfaeewaand ap ying steam :tothe grain ssimfiace-mf the sole, heaztzdirectly to said attachingsurface, and :solemnldimg pressure to :the sol e adapted -:to overmoldsaid .sole :in :a .single operation, thereby wondering the sole morereadily :moldable, overmelding into :a predetermined shape, andactivating the heaitaactivatable gcement .on its attaching sm -facesubstantially fat the same "time.

e151; That improvement in :methQdS' ei preparing a soles-for attachmentto shoe :bottomsw-whichcqm- :pri'ses providing a single may*unmolelecioutso'le haying heat-ectivata-ble cement onaits attachingemf-ace, applying outsoleemoldin'g pressure tothe sole with the aid of ayielding: owermoldedwpa gl and fa. 'correspondingly-.overm01ded;orm',1thereby molding the outsole beyond the-shapedesiredjn thefinished shoe, and simultaneously za ppiying he at 'ciireetiy to :theaittaiching surface of the outsote :fore period-of timesutficientitoractiveztegseid t'oement but ,msufifieient to heat :t-he-maiterial,pi ithetoutsol-e beyond -s aid stttatching su f'iweflthorebymotivating the .heat-activateble cement on said attaching surface andrendering it adhesive {simultaneously with the overm-olding of *theoutsole.

- That improvement in methods of xplzeparing outsoles 'for attachment toshoe :bot-toms-wmch comprises :pnovieiin-g .an nmmolded outsole havingiheatsaotivataible cement on its attaching surface,isteash'lingrthetread surface of the roma ne bI3HtUherOlltSQl into a\mo-ldable .conditionfiwi-thout. mifieetinie said cement -on;saii d.mhtaohing surffiacc, applying sol-e emolding pressure to the outsolewiththe aid of asyieldin iweljmolded padsand is heated, hzeo -i-conductingif nm mom-e m ntal in to-saidmed, thereby verm l in t e outsmpredetermined aamoun-t, and sirmfltaneoiisiy applyingadditionalheetdirectly torthe attaching ssurface-wf the outsole by means cf:sa;id-.oomp1eF mental :form to activate the cement on said sma- :ifia'oetouring :the :overmolding operation.

18. :A machine sfOT use {in enacting *upon soles hasving, incombination, a, zyieldah-ie padihavinee mold-ed ssurfalce thereon :forsupporting tthe etreegi surface of en :outsole having heat-activatahle acemcnt' on its attaching sm iiace, :a jflfl'lfm -having a surfacethereon complemerrtal .i'IliShfiiPGwiilD tthe sSuLfECE-Of the paid,mechanism iortrelatively mvingrthe pad :and form to applysol'e 1mo1ding.presaure to the outsole on the pad, and :moans :for heating t-hefformwithout heating the pad-toeause said :form ato zazpply fheat idirectlyto the attaching ssnriacerof ftheouts oletto-renderthe-:cement'themadhesive without causing it sit-exact -11?! 16simultmeousm with th g ole .zmq ding pee-ration. sai i fl f faflfi xhlgm m sai a a hin surface .eotine heo her fpoo n lof .th ou ole t anyaopnreeiob e extent- -rl- A; chine or i in o erating .imonj olehevine,.,i ombina-t on, o yielding and h vin it moloodh t if oez horeonuppo t n t e t ead ur aceof re in l 92 3 outsol ving heatctieteh c menton its etteehin su face, e sol d form mieiolly thinnes -ed ppes tethe paan h wme {a surf e there n ec mo omen el to h molded 'sii io 'of thmedemo lmnz sm zfq rmoving the rfnnm-yreletively to the pad 1 to amplymolding nee-Su e :tothe putsoie ion the pad, and means; co ned y the irn .fhr heatin said com ementel :s'uizfeoe .130 ouse it to aihnly 1 3 3d n-H2 51) to thewcement on d attaching surface [of vthe o tsnle to s ne 'soid en ad esi hil simul ane us y mo d n th :QHISQR, said ionmoperating. only 1120 .aeii te the emeo on said attaching surface withoutheatir g otlgier-;;o or time o th outsole 2 0 ny appreciabl e r e- Aimfi fl f fi $01711 nt ting mnr les g;, incombination, a yielding pod.provided h an {OVEEHIQI'QGQ surface ;=for supporting ;a, sin le enmo-ded i utw ha n themote-tile cement :QH' its .ettaohing sur c -h econduct n ifoj-hevine e suriaceifecme the we substantially oonmlementelin shape to saidrovere molded stmfaice, mechanism 'for eflecting reistive movement of ;the form and pad to apply solemolom pr ss re toz-thewout o e h p d, te d m an -;Q&I%r: ed by the f rmgtor he tin saioomip meot l su face oe e i t anpl heat directly 'tothe attachingsucfiace of the-01115018 o-endrth by fictive/tie the :Qem-ent t er onend azencier it simultaneously with the ;.0Yr. molding of :the outsole,said ionm operating, ,to app y heat only to said attaching suriepewithout heating the rest ,-of the toutsoie to any Substantial there 16.,A machine for use operating upoh soles hav n in c mbinati n, 5 eldingpad h vin a surf ce th reon or supp rtin a sol Io -m having i su ce t eron omp entel to the suria e o mad and a range t co perate "herewith, teohanism f r e tin relati e m e en o he p d n .form to vapp solevmolding,pressure to the ,sole between "the pad rend giqrm, and means forintroducing xsteam end the hole. on the (p d condition th .sole 01molding before the sole-molding pressure is implied.

. 1g, A maichin ,ior use in operating uponsoles having, in combinetiomeyielding pad having "a molded surface t ere n .for supporting ventunmmolded .sole, .e "form having e surface thereon complemental to themo ldfid surioce onthe pad .endernainged toco operate therewith,mechanism ,on th pad, e means car ie the pa fo applying steam -.to thesole before said [relative movement is eflleoted, thereby conditioningthe sole ;for molging prior to the sole-moldingope'mmeans ifor intrducing steam around th em- 17 molded sole just prior to the overmoldingoperation, said means being constructed and arranged to introduce steamfrom opposite sides of the pad under the unmolded sole to put the soleinto a more readily moldable condition before the overmolding operationtakes place.

19. A machine for use in operating upon soles having, in combination, ayielding pad having a molded surface thereon for supporting an unmoldedsole, a form having a surface complemental to the molded surface on thepad, mechanism for relatively moving the pad and form to applysole-molding pressure to the sole, means for introducing steam betweenthe sole and pad to put the sole into a moldable condition, and meansoperated by relative movement of the pad and form for controlling theintroduction of steam between the sole and pad.

20. A machine for use in operating upon soles having, in combination, ayielding pad provided with a molded surface for supporting an unmoldedsole, a form having a surface thereon complemental to the surface on thepad, mechanism for moving the form relatively to the pad to applysole-molding pressure to the sole, means for introducing steam betweenthe pad and sole to put the sole into a more readily moldable condition,and means operated by movement of the form relatively to the pad forcontrolling the introduction of the steam between the sole and pad inpredetermined timed relation to the application of the sole-moldingpressure.

21. A machine for use in operating upon soles having, in combination, astationary pad provided with a molded surface for supporting anunmoldedsole, a form having a surface thereon complemental to the molded surfaceof the pad and adapted to cooperate therewith to apply molding pressureto the sole, said form being movable forwardly and rearwardly of themachine into and out of operative position over the pad, mechanism formoving the form toward the pad to apply molding pressure to the sole,means for introducing steam between the sole and pad to put the soleinto a condition for molding, and means operated automatically bymovement of the form forwardly into position over the pad forcontrolling the introduction of steam between the sole and pad, saidmeans being constructed and arranged to permit steam to be introducedprior to the application of molding pressure to the sole but to shut offthe steam before molding pressure is applied.

22. A machine for use in operating upon soles having, in combination, ayielding pad having an overmolded surface thereon for supporting anunmolded sole having thermoplastic cement on its attaching surface, ametal form provided with a surface complemental in shape to theovermolded surface of the pad for engaging said attaching surface,mechanism for relatively moving the form and pad to apply overmoldingpressure to the sole on the pad, means for applying steam to the solebefore the overmolding pressure is applied, thereby putting the soleinto a moldable condition, and means for heating the complementalsurface of the form to a predetermined temperature to cause it to applyheat directly to the attaching surface of the sole and thereby toactivate the cement on said surface simultaneously with the overmoldingoperation.

23. A machine for use in operating upon soles to prepare them forattachment to shoe bottoms having, in combination, a, yielding padprovided with an overmolded surface for supporting an unmolded solehaving a heat-activatable cement on its attaching surface, a metal formprovided with a sole-engaging surface complemental in shape to theovermolded surface on the pad, mechanism for relatively moving the padand form to apply overmolding pressure to the sole on the pad, meanscarried by the pad for introducing steam around the sole before moldingpressure is applied to the sole toput the sole into a more readilymoldable condition, said means being constructed and arranged tointroduce steam simultaneously from opposite sides of the pad into thespace between the sole and the surface of the pad, and heating meanscarried by the form, for heating the complemental surface thereon to apredetermined temperature to cause it to apply heat directly to theattaching surface of the sole and thereby activate the cement thereonsimultaneously with the application of overmolding pressure to the sole,thereby preparing the sole for immediate attachment to a shoe bottomafter the overmolding operation is completed.

HANS C. PAULSEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,713,550 Perry May 21, 19292,134,100 Bray Oct, 25, 1938 2,213,066 Donovan Aug, 27, 1940 2,226,769Heather et al Dec. 31, 1940 2,242,818 Donovan May 20, 1941 2,298,037Crandell Oct. 6, 1942 2,377,208 Card May 29, 1945 Certificate ofCorrection Patent No. 2,443,693. June 22, 1948.

HANS O. PAULSEN It is hereby certified that errors appear in the printedspecification of the above numbered patent requiring correction asfollows: Column 14, lines 45 and 46, claim 5, strike out the wordswithout changing its position; column 15, line 34, claim 11, foroutsole-molding read sole-molding; line 35, for sole read outsole; andthat the said Letters Patent should be read with these correctionstherein that the same may conform to the record of the case in thePatent Oflice.

Signed and sealed this 23rd day of November, A. D. 1948.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Uommz'ssioner of Patents.

